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Biodiversity Survey on Indigenous Varieties of Solanum Melongena L in Darrang District of Assam, India

Prasenjit Bhagawati*, Shelima Akhtar, Jutika Das, Malashree Borah and Ashish Kar

Solanum melongena L. is a member from the family Solanaceae along with S. tuberosum (potato), S. lycopersicum (tomato), Capsicum sp. (pepper) etc. Solanum melongena L. is commonly known as eggplant or brinjal and is a popular vegetable plant with various known nutritional and ethomedicinal values. Even though S. melongena is native to India and China but are know well spread all across the globe. The Indian state of Assam, located in the North-eastern part of India is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world and is a treasure trove of various plant varieties. The Darrang district of Assam is known for its large scale production of vegetables and hence considering the above facts, a survey was conducted to assess the available biodiversity in terms of varieties of S. melongena L. in the region and further the market potential of the same was also surveyed. The study shows the availability of 16 varieties of S. melongena L viz., Pusa purple oval, Sagalihingia, Pusa Bhairav, Arka Nidhi or BWR-12, Snowy, Kuchia, Borbengena, White oval, Green oval, Long green, Pusa purple long, Pusakranti, Khorua-3, Arka Neelkanth, Simran and Pusa purple cluster in the region. Out of these, pusa purple long variety is more fruit yielding followed by Arkanidhi, Borbengna and Arkaneelkanth variety. A wide range of differences in terms of the price of Brinjal was observed. The per kg price of White oval and Borbengena variety was found highest due to more preferences by the customers. Whereas, the price of Pusa purple oval and Arka neelkanth varieties was found low. The varieties such as Pusa purple round and Pusa purple were cultivated rarely which needs proper attention for the conservation of such varieties for future.

Solanum melongena, Eggplant, Erinjal, Ethnomedicinal, Eutraceutical values